The Ezakheni youth are fed-up with the potholes and rubbish in their community and are to embark on a clean-up campaign.
Chairperson of the Sakhithemba Youth Organisation, Londathina Hlomuka, Ezakheni and members of the organisation said they were tired, frustrated and fed-up with the deteriorating condition of their ward. This emerged during a meeting at Section D/Ward 4, Ezakheni on Saturday morning, 10 April. “Just look at our ward. In my years of staying in Ezakheni, I have never seen my community neighbourhood look this filthy,” he added. Hlomuka and his team decided that proactive action needed to be taken and will get the ball rolling by playing host to a community clean-up campaign which will be held on 1 May. This campaign aims to bring together the community to clean the public spaces that have been neglected. Hlomuka said environmentally hazardous waste could be found on some streets, and that criminal activities were common in certain places.
These spaces include vacant land filled with household and other waste, pothole-filled roads with overgrown grass on the V-drains, culverts, and redundant parks. The youth intend to clean and properly dispose of the waste, patch potholes and cut grass on roadsides, clean stormwater drains, among other activities. “While we clean, we will also engage in a plethora of discussions about the social and economic impact of a clean environment in the community, entrepreneurship, education opportunities, safety tips and general issues affecting our community. We will also discuss how to combat the many social ills we are facing. We will also be having health, alcohol & substance abuse and Covid-19 awareness discussions,” added Hlomuka.
Hlomuka told The Ladysmith Herald that most of the funding has come from their own pockets and all members are currently unemployed. “We have approached businesses, individuals, even our own parents to help, but we are now looking to the rest of the community to please help support us.” Spades, shovels, rakes, gloves, wheelbarrows, brooms, refuse bags, Cold Asphalt, Prime/SS60 is needed to assist with the clean-up campaign. It does not matter how big or small the donation, if you can help it will be appreciated. Hlomuka said one of the main aims is to establish a network between the community, community groups, organisations, NPOs NGOs and link them with the municipality to develop a sustainable community-municipal-government relation where all the parties could benefit from one another. “Change is within each of us, thus it should begin with us making it in our immediate community for the benefit of all our people,” added Hlomuka For more information on how to get involved or to find out more, please contact londathinagiven@gmail.com 0781080645/0849646641/ 0781080645/0849646641.
